JOHN WAYNE AND LONG BEACH AIRPORTS

John Wayne Airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge said airport law enforcement and security are aware of the situation at LAX, but have not changed their usual routine. Wedge also said there is no indication that flights from LAX will be diverted to John Wayne at this time.

At Long Beach Airport, security has been increased and departing passengers should arrive early, said public affairs employee Cassie Perez-Harmison.

So far, three Jet Blue flights have been diverted to Long Beach Airport, Perez-Harmison said. JetBlue officials said its LAX service, both departures and arrivals, will operate from the Long Beach Airport for the remainder of the day.

LOS ANGELES - Air travel could be interrupted throughout the weekend after a shooting at Los Angeles International airport led to flight delays and cancellations that stranded passengers and prompted a mad scramble to rebook on already-packed weekend flights.

LAX operations were beginning to return to normal by late Friday, but the damage already had been done: More than 746 flights into and out of Los Angeles were affected, with many of them cancelled, airport officials said. Forty-six flights were diverted to other airports. Officials told the New York Times early Saturday that nationwide, more than 1,550 flights, carrying more than 160,000 passengers, were affected by the attack

The problems at the nation’s third busiest airport quickly rippled throughout the air system. JetBlue, for example, moved to divert LAX flights south to Long Beach Airport. Crowds of travelers jammed McCarran Airport in Las Vegas trying to find another way to get back to Los Angeles.

Gina Marie Lindsey, chief executive office of Los Angeles World Airports, said there would be “a carefully orchestrated logistical ballet” to restore regular service, but added that all flights into LAX Friday would be “significantly late.”

No major problems were reported at John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airports, although Long Beach was busier than usual because of JetBlue’s extra traffic.

In addition to woes for those trying to get to LAX, thousands of travelers on departing flights got trapped on lock-down at the Los Angeles airport as law enforcement secured the area and began investigating the shooting that left one dead and injured six others.

Officials identified the alleged gunman as Paul Ciancia, a Los Angeles resident originally from New Jersey. The New York Times reported Ciancia allegedly entered the airport Friday morning with an assault rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition, killing a Transportation Security Administration officer, Gerardo I. Hernandez, and injuring others. He was eventually wounded by security personnel and arrested.

Carol Evanson, who was traveling with her husband, Marty, to Chicago, had been in Terminal 3 awaiting her flight on Spirit Friday morning when she said chaos broke out.

The airport evacuated the Evansons, along with thousands of other passengers, from Terminals 1 and 2 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, where they were held until late afternoon.

But all of the terminal’s exits were blocked off and its newspaper stands and snack bars closed, leaving the trapped passengers with few resources. A call was put out for infant formula. In early afternoon, airport staff began handing out Nutri-Grain bars, cheese and crackers, Gatorade and water.

The Evansons gave up hope of getting to Chicago Friday for an important business meeting Marty Evanson needed to attend. But they were among the lucky ones, able to rebook a new flight on Saturday.

Rich Garry, 68, of Fullerton, Calif., told the New York Times that he had been at Terminal 3 on Friday morning for a flight to New York to visit family members. He said that a security officer had just checked his boarding pass and that he was waiting in line at the security checkpoint when he heard two shots.

“I heard a ‘pop-pop’ and I looked down a floor below, and the T.S.A. guy was on the floor,” he said. “He had been shot.”

Mr. Garry said he believed it was the same security officer who had inspected his boarding pass.

As the gunman moved through the terminal, Mr. Garry told the Times, “he was very calm. When he got to the top of the stairs where the security checkpoints are, he looked around. If he would have come up the ramp, he would have had a field day with all the people lying on the ground, like me.”

Mr. Garry said he and several others crawled to a nearby elevator and went to the ground floor. Once there, he saw police officers for the first time, and told them to go to the second floor.

Rick Clough, an Orange County Register business writer who was headed to Las Vegas for his 30th birthday on a 10:05 a.m. Southwest Airlines in Terminal 1, was also among those who got caught in the lock-down.

He said everyone in Terminal 1 initially was evacuated to wait on the tarmac. Then passengers were loaded onto buses and transferred to the Tom Bradley Terminal where people milled about, many checking their smartphones for updates. In addition to travelers, the group in lock-down included airport concession workers from McDonald’s and La Brea Bakery.

Just before 3 p.m., the airport announced passengers could board buses to be taken back to their original terminals. Clough could not rebook a flight and planned to drive to Las Vegas.

Related Links

Passengers evacuated from Terminal 1 wait outside Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 3, prompting authorities to evacuate passengers and disrupting thousands of flights. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this photo provided to the AP, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, police officers stand near an unidentified weapon in Terminal 3 of the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Officials said a gunman who opened fire in the terminal was wounded in a shootout with police and taken into custody. AP
Police walk outside Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Passengers walk with their luggage leaving the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. A suspected gunman was in custody Friday following a shooting at Los Angeles airport that left multiple people wounded and disrupted flights nationwide. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Police stand on high alert at Terminal 2 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck talks with other responders at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Passengers walk along a closed street with their luggage after leaving the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov.1, 2013. A gunman armed with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, killing a Transportation Security Administration employee and wounding two other people in an attack that frightened passengers and disrupted flights nationwide. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Fire, rescue and police personnel gather at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov.1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
A police officer closes a road at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013, after shots were reporter in Terminal 3, prompting authorities to evacuate the terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Transportation Security Administration employees hug outside Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. A gunman armed with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, killing a Transportation Security Administration employee and wounding two other people. Flights were disrupted nationwide. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Passengers walk with their luggage while leaving Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Passengers are directed outside Terminal 2 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013, after shots were fired, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
In this aerial video frame grab provided by CBS-LA, fire and rescue personnel gather at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/CBS-LA)
Police officers stand guard atop Terminal 3 at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Passengers wait for Los Angeles International Airport to reopen at Terminal 1 on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. A gunman armed with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, killing a Transportation Security Administration employee and wounding two other people. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Police, emergency response vehicles and officials are positioned outside Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Traffic approaching Los Angeles International Airport comes to a standstill on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Thousands of fliers were delayed Friday after a shooting in Terminal 3 closed parts of the airport for hours, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. Los Angeles police said a suspected gunman has been taken into custody. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Police officers stand guard atop Terminal 3 at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
In this photo provided by John Forstrom, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, people walk across the tarmac after being evacuated from Los Angeles International Airport, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports.(AP Photo/John Forstrom)
A police officer directs traffic at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013, after shots were fired in Terminal 3, prompting authorities to evacuate the terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Passengers evacuate the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013, after shots were fired prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Gasaya Ichihara, left, runs across the street with her daughter, Sachika Ichihara, as they try to make their flight to Japan at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Thousands of fliers were delayed Friday after a shooting in Terminal 3 closed parts of the airport for hours. Los Angeles police said a suspected gunman has been taken into custody. Los Angles is a major gateway for flights to Asia. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
A police officer diverts traffic trying to enter the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013. Shots were fired Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Passengers evacuate the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday Nov. 1, 2013, in Los Angeles. Shots were fired at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
First responders gather outside Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport Friday morning. At least one suspect opened fire inside the terminal and at least three people, including a Transportation Security Administration agent, were wounded according to early reports. Courtesy of FOX 11/myfoxla.com
Airplanes sit on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Thousands of fliers were delayed Friday after a shooting in Terminal 3 closed parts of the airport for hours, prompting authorities to evacuate a terminal and stop flights headed for the city from taking off from other airports. Los Angeles police said a suspected gunman has been taken into custody. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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